Public Relations and Advertising

Why Study Public Relations and Advertising?

Public relations and advertising play major roles in our society. Career options are
growing in today’s digital world as organizations utilize various platforms to reach
target audiences. Our program provides students with the skills and knowledge to help
them find their career path.

What Will I Learn?

The curriculum begins with courses that offer an overview of the public relations
and advertising professions and industries to demonstrate its contribution to our
society. From there, students focus on specific areas such as writing, design, research,
analytics, creative strategy, media planning and campaigns. . We stay connected with
real-world by inviting professionals and alumni to the classroom and developing and
implementing campaign plans for local and national clients. Students are also encouraged
to complete internships for credit and join our AAF and PRSSA chapters.

Public Relations and Advertising students also have opportunities recieve certification
from Hootsuite and Google, and participate in national and international competitions
such as PRSSA Bateman Competition, Arthur W. Page Society Case Study Competition,
AAF National Student Advertising Competition (NSAC), Google Ad Grants Online Marketing
Challenge, etc.

Internships offer students in the School of Communication an important opportunity
for supervised learning in a professional setting. Students benefit by gaining valuable
insight into the careers and job tasks of professionals in their major, by enriching
their learning experience through observing first-hand the practical application of
classroom theories and concepts, and by gaining vital professional contacts with professionals
in their major. Internships may be earned in public relations and advertising, and
three credit hours are offered for students who successfully complete the internship
over the course of one semester.

Because of the ever growing digital nature of the journalism field, it is imperative
that students learn with technology that they will use in their professional career.
Therefore, all students must have a MAC laptop for the program. Laptop requirements
specific to the journalism degree can be found on the School of Communication website.

Your success is our success.

Whether working with students on class projects or honors theses, team projects or
student groups, advising or chatting when we run into you on campus, we take the time
to get to know our students. All of the faculty in the School are active in research
projects and creative endeavors, balancing disciplinary leadership positions, and
serving the university in important ways, but we always find time to help students.
Your success is our success.